It was widely believed that the end of the New York Jets' Mark Sanchez Era began on the day that Tim Tebow was shipped east from Denver. Sanchez was on shaky ground on after an 8-8 season in 2011 and Tebow, who said all of the right things but was rumored to have his eye on the starting gig, was a meme-generating, fan-inspiring sensation. Lo behold, Rex Ryan made a quarterback change. It took until Week 16 (and some mind-boggling fails) but the Jets have finally named a new starter.
But it's not Tebow.
Greg McElroy, a seventh-round pick in the 2011 draft out of Alabama, will start for the Jets against the Chargers in Week 16 while Tebow and Sanchez both compare notes (and perhaps exit strategies) on the sideline.
"It's my decision... and I'm choosing to go with Greg," Jets coach Rex Ryan said on Tuesday, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. "I do believe this is best for our team.. that Greg is our QB."
Will fans feel the same way? What about Tebow? While Sanchez has played himself out of the role, Tebow might feel like he never got a fair shot. With just 39 yards on eight passing attempts and 102 yards on 32 rushing attempts, Tebow has hardly distinguished himself during his limited opportunity. Does he deserve a chance to to start? And if not now then when? And if Ryan and the Jets coaches have no faith in Tebow then what does the team do about the two years remaining on the five-year deal worth $11.25 million that he signed in 2010?